Hariss still has future at JDT

Johor Darul Ta’zim owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has assured fans that there is still a place for Hariss Harun at the club – though he is unlikely to play again before 2018.

The Malaysian outfit announced in December they intend to loan out the Singapore international in 2017, and Tunku Ismail – also known as TMJ – confirmed this was still the plan.

Hariss has not been registered for any competitions this season, and Brian Ferreira, who holds both Argentinian and Iraqi citizenship, is filling his Asian quota spot in JDT’s squad.

Nonetheless, Hariss’ services will once again be called on in 2018, said TMJ, when the Malaysia Super League will hopefully amend its regulations to allow five foreigners to turn out for any one team, instead of the four allowed now.

“Hariss Harun will return at the end of his loan spell. He will return in 2018 because by then the M-League will allow up to five foreign players per team and he will fill up the spot,” TMJ said.

There is still a possibility that Hariss could be called upon sooner, if JDT fail to find a club to take him on loan.

TMJ would not go into any detail, only hinting that he would be making changes to the squad in June.

“Whatever it is, there will be changes in June because at the moment I am not fully satisfied,” he said.

“But we need to be realistic because it is based on the budget we have.

“If every year we want to win trophies, become champions and spend money, one day the club will suffer financially.”